Pressurized cosmetic container



July 7, 1970 H. P. LANKELMA, JR 3,51

PRESSURIZED COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed Sept. 21. 1967 I1 Sheets-Shoot 1 y 7, 1970 H. P. LANKELMA, JR 3,519,170

PRES SURIZED COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed Sept. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent lice 3,519,170 PRESSURIZED COSMETIC CONTAINER Herman Peter Lankelma, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Gillette Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 669,611 Int. Cl. B65d 83/14 US. Cl. 222-212 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Liquid dispensing, a product container being normally unpressurized, but having a propellant container with a normally closed valve which when opened releases propellant into the product container thereby forcing the product out through a dispensing passage. Product flow is terminated by allowing the valve to close and at the same time venting the product container to the atmosphere.

This invention relates to dispensing liquid products having a wide range of viscosities. More particularly, it concerns a dispenser of the pressurized propellant class that permits precise finger-tip control of the dispensing of even comparatively viscous products such as cremes fiowable gels and pastes including for example cosmetics or food products.

Most of the pressurized dispensing containers which have been commercially employed have been of the type in which the inner pressure has been maintained at some predetermined super-atmospheric level by the presence of pressurizing gas throughout the head space of the container. In normal practice, this positive internal pressure is maintained throughout the useful life of the container by vaporization of liquefied propellant in the c ntainer or, in the case of non-liquefied propellants, by employing an excess amount of propellant gas at the time of filling to insure sufficient pressure to completely empty the package.

While modern manufacturing and packaging techniques have been responsible for the development of pressurized packages having an excellent record of safety in use, the potential energy contained within such containers in the form of pressurized gases and liquids is considerable, necessitating special care in shipment and use. When conventional pressurized containers are subjected to sudden impact, rupture of the container, if metal, or shattering, if glass, can cause human injury or chemical damage.

Another disadvantage in the use of conventional pressurized containers involves the design limitations imposed by the need to use metal containers. Although glass and, to some extent, plastic bottles are sometimes used in pressurized packaging, package Weight and cost consideration have resulted in the adoption of the common cylindrical can for most packaging applications. It has accordingly not been practical to form containers having complex curved surfaces.

A further disadvantage is present in the convenionally employed pressurized containers in which the propellant is in continual contact with the product to be dispensed. When liquefied propellants are employed, chemical formulation and solubility problems are commonly encountered. Furthermore, the propellant may cause the product to foam, interfering with product appearance.

While some of these problems of pressurized dispensers can be avoided by the use of special packages with flexible partitions between product and propellant, package costs are increased, esthetic design limitations still exist, and the freedom of choice of the package component manufacturer is further restricted. Unpressurized containers which require no propellant can be better designed 3,519,170 Patented July 7, 1970 to suit the properties of the product itself. Design of such containers can be directed primarily to such considerations as product purity, esthetic appeal of the packaged product, and economy of fabrication and loading. Yet despite these advantages of unpressurized containers, pressurized propellant dispensers are still widely used for many products. Consumer preferences are strongly influenced by the greater convenience of use afforded by such pressurized dispensers which obviate the necessity of inverting the container, pumping an atomizer bulb, r opening the container and digging out the product with the fingers or other implements.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a dispenser which combines the aforementioned design advantages of unpressurized containers with the convenience of use heretofore afforded only by dispensers under continued propellant pressure. The preferred embodiment comprises a dispenser which is at least as convenient to use as the pressurized propellant dispensers previously known, yet which is far safer to distribute and use and easier to make because it is not under continual internal pressure, but on the contrary is unpressurized at all times except during the few moments while the product is actually being dispensed. Other objects are to provide such a dispenser with a dispensing passage which may be large in cross section to permit the dispensing of even comparatively viscous products while yet avoiding the necessity of high internal pressures, to provide a fail-safe venting arrangement such that even the low pressure that does exist during the brief moments of actual product dispensing is safely vented should the user accidentally release his grip on the dispenser, to provide precise control of the amount of the product that is dispensed such that the product flow ends abruptly when the dispensing conrol is released by the user, and to provide such a container that may be manufactured economically preserving wide flexibility of choice both with respect to the composition of the product and propellant, and with respect to the size, shape material, and other characteristics of the product container.

The invention features an outer container for the product to be dispensed, a dispensing passage extending through a wall thereof, a propellant container having a valved opening within the outer product container, and a vent through the wall of the outer container. In preferred embodiments the propellant container has a normally closed valve and a valve actuating mechanism that may be operated from the outside of the outer container by exerting an inward pressure upon flexible diaphragm forming a portion of the outer container wall. A vent hole is provided at the center of the diaphragm so that the user may seal the vent with the same finger that he uses to press the diaphragm and thus to open the valve of the propellant container.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken together with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention which may be used, for example, as a dispenser for a cosmetic creme.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on a plane through the vertical axis of the dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the product container 2 taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view showing an alternative location 34 for the vent designated 30 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view showing a dispensing passage constructed as an integral part of the outer prod uct container 2 rather than as a separate dip-tube component 12 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the product container 2 taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

There is shown in the drawings an outer product container 2 partially filled with the product 4. Above the surface of the product 24 a propellant space 6 is provided. Propellant container 8 is supported within the outer product container, as for example, by flanges 10 which may be an integral part of the inner walls of the product container 2. Dispensing passage 12 may also be formed as an integral part of the product container 2, for example as shown in FIG. 5, or alternatively, it may be a separately formed dip-tube assembly sealed to a suitable cooperating opening through the product container wall, for example as shown in FIG. 2. Dispensing passage 12 extends between a product intake orifice 14, (preferably located at or near the lowest point of the product container to permit a maximum amount of the product to be dispensed) and product dispensing orifice 16 (which may if desired be provided with a removable cover or cap to protect product purity).

Propellant container 8 is initially charged with a com pressed or liquified gas or other suitably chosen propellant. When valve actuating mechanism 18 is pushed downwards, the normally closed valve of propellant container 8 is opened, and the propellant gas is released through opening 20. This gas can by-pass supporting flanges 10 through passages 22 (best seen in FIG. 3) and thereby fills propellant space 6, exerting pressure on the surface 24 of the product 4 and thereby forcing the product out through dispensing passage 12 at a predetermined rate. (This rate may be varied by suitable selection of the propellant characteristics, such as the vapor-pressure etc., by varying the shape and dimensions of dispensing pas sage 12, and by the structure of the propellant container valve, all of which are matters well known to those skilled in the art.)

Valve operating mechanism 18 is adjacent to the inner surface of flexible diaphragm 26 which is in turn hermetically sealed to product container 2 by sealing ring 28.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, diaphragm 26 is pierced by a relatively small vent hole 30 which may be located directly above valve operating mechanism 18. Alternatively, the vent hole may be located elsewhere on the surface of the outer product container 2, for example as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 at 34. It is preferable that the vent hole 30 or 34 be located in such a position that it may be conveniently covered by a fingertip or other portion of the same hand of the user that (as later described) is used to actuate the valve operating mechanism 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, valve operating mechanism 18 is grooved with a slot 32 which permits gas to pass freely between the outside and the inside of product container 2 whenever vent hole 30 is not covered from the outside. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 the vent hole 34 communicates directly with one of the passages 22. Whatever the location chosen for the vent hole, it is necessary that when the vent is not sealed a free passage for gas should exist between propellant space 6 and the outer atmosphere.

In operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the user presses a fingertip downwards on the center of flexible diaphragm 26 (at vent 30)), thereby sealing the vent and simultaneously deforming the diaphragm inwards thereby causing its inner surface to depress valve operating mechanism 18. This in turn opens the normally closed valve of propellant container 8 and thus causes propellant gas to be released through opening 20. The propellant gas expands to fill gas space 6 and so exerts a predetermined pressure on the surface 24 of product 4. This pressure causes the product to flow out through dispensing orifice 16 of dispensing passage 12. When the user has obtained the desired amount of the product, he simply releases his finger from diaphragm 26 permitting the diaphragm to return to its normal undeformed position (as shown in FIG. 2). Valve operating mechanism 18 is biased to return to its normally closed position when the flexible diaphragm is released by the used and no longer holds mechanism 18 in the open (depressed) position. Removal of the users finger from the diaphragm also uncovers vent hole 30. This permits rapid venting of the propellant gas from propellant space 6 to the outside of product container 2 thus equalizing the gas pressure inside the product container with the ambient atmospheric pressure and ensuring that no fur ther pressure is exerted on the surface of the product after the diaphragm is released by the user. The venting of the gas space 6 to the outer atmosphere prevents the unwanted prolongation of the product flow through orifice 16 after the user releases the diaphragm. Operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 is quite similar, but vent hole 34 may be covered by one digit of the users hand, and the diaphragm 26 may be pressed by another digit of the same hand. It may, for example, be convenient to press the diaphragm inwards with the ball of the thumb while vent hole 34 is sealed with the index finger as shown in FIG. 4.

For all the embodiments described, the outer product container 2 is thus under pressure only during the brief time while the product is actually being dispensed. Should the dispenser be inadvertently dropped the vent 30 or 34 is automatically uncovered, rapidly venting the internal pressure of the container and so greatly reducing the hazard of flying fragments due to rupture of a container under pressure. The product is not exposed to prolonged contact with the propellant; since this greatly reduces the problems of product foaming or product contamination by the propellant, a wider range of product and propellant combinations may be chosen without adverse effect. The shape, size, material, and other characteristics of the outer product container may be freely selected in accordance with precise product requirements, rather than being subject to the severe safety constraints and other requirements related to the long continued presence of the propellant as in the case of previously constructed dispensers subject to continual pressure. Improved safety, economy and flexibility of design are some, but by no means all, of the significant advantages that arise from the described embodiment.

Other embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser comprising:

an outer container adapted to contain the product to be dispensed,

a dispensing passage having an inlet orifice located within said outer container and extending through the wall of said outer container,

a propellant container having a valve and a valve-operating mechanism operable from the outside of said outer container, said valve opening within said outer container,

a flexible diaphragm forming a portion of a wall of said outer container and adapted to cooperate with said valve operating mechanism, and

a closable vent comprising a hole adapted to be sealed by a portion of a users hand, extending through a wall of said outer container separate from said dispensing passage and adapted when open to permit.

the equalization of pressure within and without said outer container, said vent and said diaphragm being positionally related to each other and exposed to the exterior of the dispenser to permit opening or closing of the vent simultaneously with actuation of the valve operating mechanism by a single hand of a user.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a hole through said diaphragm.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Zeamans 222-397 X Paul 222-209 Ward 222-399 X Goodenow et a1. 222-209 X McKernan 222-399 Mack 222-399 X 6 2,973,885 3/1961 Ferguson 222-399 3,105,619 10/1963 Rohrmuller 222 481 X 3,420,418 1/ 1969 Rousset et a1 222-399 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 222-399, 481 

